Telegraph-relay



(No'ModeL) W. L. VOELKER. Telegraph Relay.

No. 237,933. Patented Feb. 15,1881.

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WILLIAM L. VOELKER, OF MORTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

TELEGRAPH-RELAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,933, dated February 15, 1881. Application filed July 16, 1880. (X0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM L. VOELKER, of Morton, in the county ot'Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Relays, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofret'erence marked thereon.

My invention has relation to that class of de vices used in telegraphy commonly known as relays, which receive the circuit-current of electricity from the line-wire, and are caused by it to bring into action the power of a local battery for the purpose of re-enforcing the current and performmg various work, such as embossiu g on printing-paper, or the liberation of machinery for the production of sounds.

Relays, as heretofore constructed, consist of an electro-magnet wound with fine wire in the usual manner, which is introduced into the main line and becomes a part of the great conductor from station to station. l/Vhen the key breaks and closes the circuit the relay receives the voltaic current and becomes magnetized and demagnetized. A delicately-poised lever, having the armature of the magnet attached to it, vibrates backward and forward, bringing together two platinum points, thus breaking and closing a secondary or local circuit, embracing a local battery and a strong electromagnet. A screw is used to move the magnet-coils backward and forward, so as to adjust the general magnetic power, and a spring retracts the armature after the magnetic attraction which has drawn it forward ceases.

In my improved device I make use of the actuating power of solenoids, or hollow bobbins, for drawing in one or more soft-iron cores, or permanent magnets; and I also employ mercury or any other liquid the specific gravity of which will, when used as in this case, have the effect of breaking the contact which closes the local circuit after the cessation of the electrical impulse that closed the same.

I dispense with the use of an armature and springfor withdrawing the same from the magnet. The regulating-screws may also be dispensed with and two rigid stops put in their place, leaving space enough between for the necessary play of the contact-tongue, the required position in this case being obtained by the amount of mercury placed in the cistern, or by elevating and depressing the cistern itself.

When permanent magnets are used my device becomes a polarized relay.

The drawing represents a vertical axial section of my improved relay, showing all the parts as assembled for use.

A is the base of the instrument, formed of wood or any other suitable non-conducting.

material, in the usual manner.

B B are two hollow bobbins, placed upon the base A and secured thereto.

0 is a frame-work of brass extending over the bobbins, and is securely attached to the base by means of screws.

D D are two soft-iron cores or magnets fitting into the hollow bobbins, and joined together at the top by means of the iron crosspiece d.

E is a platinum wire or rod, extending down between the bobbins through the center of cross piece (I, being fastened rigidly therein. Upon its lower extremity I place a ball, H, of cork, aluminium, or any other very light material or, if preferred, a hollow bulb of glass may be employed. In the latter case the wire or rod must extend entirely through the bulb, protruding therethrough in order to complete the circuit. At the top of wire E, I attach a contact arm or tongue, 0. At F F are insula-tors, made of ivory or other suitable nonconducting material, the wire E playing nicely and freely therein.

G is a cistern, of glass or other material, fitted into the base A, under and around the bulb upon the lower extremity of rod E. This cistern is designed to contain mercury for sustaining bulb H, and may be provided with a set screw or nut, I, at bottom, for the purpose of depressing or raising the cistern in order to adjust the rod to a proper position.

Various methods of regulating the height of the mercury will readily suggest themselves. It may be done as above indicated, or by passing a screw through the cup and into the mercury, or by use of an elastic bottom upon the cup, with regulating screw, after the form adopted in barometers, 850.

K is a set-screw, with insulated point, designed to regulate the height to which rod E may be forced, and L is also a set-screw, provided with a platinum point, to perfect the contact when the arm or tongue is drawn down by a current of electricity acting upon the magnets to which it is attached. a, a, a and a are binding-screws affixed to the base A, to which are attached the various connections with the line, earth, and local battery.

When the several parts are assembled for use, the cistern is partially filled with mercury or other liquid, and ad iusted to such a posi-' the bobbins B B, magnetizing the cores D D,

thereby drawing them down and making contactbetween e and L, and putting in operation the local battery, the current of which passes from binding-screw a up through the framework G, through contact-point L and arm 6, down rod E into the mercury cup or cistern, and to line-wire at (1 thereby completing the circuit. Upon the cessation of the current from a, the cores B B are demagnetized and the superior gravity of the mercury forces bulb and arranged substantially in accordance with the foregoing description, my improved relay admirably answers the various purposes and objects for which it is intended.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a telegraphic relay, base A, hollow bobbins B B, cores 1) D, rod E, insulators F F, contact-tongue e, bulb or float H, cistern G, for coutainin g mercury or other liquid, screw I, insulated stop K,pontact-point L, and frame 0, the whole combined and arranged to operate substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. VOELKER. Witnesses WORTH Oscoon, ARTHUR M. PIERCE. 

